Level 3 Certificate for Forest School Leaders (RQF)

A qualified Forest School Leader is the professional responsible for designing, planning, and leading a Forest School programme – a long-term, learner-centred approach to outdoor education that takes place in a woodland or natural environment over a sustained series of sessions. The Level 3 Certificate for Forest School Leaders is the recognised professional qualification for this role and is required by most schools, early years settings, youth organisations, and wildlife charities before they will allow someone to lead their own Forest School programme. Without this qualification, you can assist on Forest School sessions but cannot design or lead programmes independently.

The Forest School principles, as defined by the Forest School Association (FSA), are: (1) Forest School is a long-term process of regular sessions, rather than one-off visits; (2) Forest School takes place in a natural woodland or wooded environment to support the development of a relationship between the learner and the natural world; (3) Forest School uses a range of learner-centred processes to create a community for development and learning; (4) Forest School aims to promote the holistic development of all those involved, fostering resilient, confident, independent, and creative learners; (5) Forest School offers learners the opportunity to take supported risks appropriate to the environment and to themselves; (6) Forest School is run by qualified Forest School practitioners who continuously develop their professional practice.

Prior experience of working with children or young people is strongly recommended, as the qualification requires you to deliver Forest School sessions with a group of learners and to gather practical assessment evidence from real programme delivery. You do not need a formal teaching or childcare qualification, but you will need to be able to arrange a suitable group of participants to work with during the course. If you are coming from a conservation, environmental, or outdoor education background without direct experience of working with children, we recommend gaining some voluntary experience before or during your studies.

Yes – a current outdoor or paediatric first aid certificate is required before you begin delivering Forest School sessions with participants. The specific first aid requirement for Forest School is set by the Forest School Association and your employer or the organisation where you will be delivering. An Outdoor First Aid qualification (minimum 16 hours) is generally considered the appropriate standard for Forest School leaders. If you do not currently hold a first aid qualification, you should arrange to complete one before or during your studies. LearnDirect can advise on appropriate first aid providers.

The Practical Skills unit covers a range of bushcraft and outdoor competencies relevant to Forest School delivery, which typically include: the safe use of tools such as bow saws, loppers, billhooks, and knives; fire lighting and fire management; shelter building using natural materials; rope work and knots; natural art and craft using foraged or found materials; camp cooking over an open fire; and identification of common woodland species. You will need to demonstrate personal competency in these skills and show that you can facilitate them safely with participants of different ages and abilities.

Ecological impact management refers to the practices and strategies Forest School Leaders use to ensure that repeated visits to a woodland site do not damage the ecosystem over time. Forest School sessions involve regular physical activity in a natural environment, which can cause soil compaction, trampling of ground flora, disturbance of wildlife, and over-harvesting of natural materials if not carefully managed. The Planning and Preparation unit of this qualification develops your understanding of how to assess the carrying capacity of your site, rotate session areas to allow recovery, maintain deadwood and invertebrate habitats, manage coppice and understorey, and keep records of ecological change. A well-managed Forest School can actively enhance a woodland’s biodiversity over time.

Yes – while the Forest School approach is most commonly associated with children’s education and early years settings, it is increasingly used with adult learners in community mental health, therapeutic horticulture, adult education, and social inclusion contexts. The Level 3 Certificate for Forest School Leaders qualifies you to deliver programmes for any age group, and the principles of learner-centred, long-term, nature-based practice apply equally whether you are working with nursery children, teenagers, or adults recovering from mental health difficulties or social isolation.

Assessment is entirely portfolio based – there are no unseen external examinations. Your portfolio will include written theoretical assignments covering Forest School principles, learning theory, and ecological knowledge; practical evidence from delivering real Forest School sessions, including session plans, risk assessments, and observation records; site documentation; and reflective accounts of your own practice and professional growth. Your tutor will guide you through what evidence is needed for each unit and provide feedback throughout the process.

You will need access to a woodland, forest, or natural outdoor environment that is suitable for regular Forest School sessions over a sustained period. This could be a school woodland, community woodland, local nature reserve, farm woodland, or any other natural outdoor space that you have permission to use. The space should be rich enough in natural features – trees, natural materials, varied terrain – to support a range of Forest School activities and ecological learning. If you do not have access to a suitable site, our team can advise on how to identify or apply for access to appropriate spaces in your local area.

Yes – many qualified Forest School Leaders choose to operate as freelance practitioners, offering Forest School programmes to schools, nurseries, community groups, and organisations on a contract or day-rate basis. Building a freelance Forest School practice requires good organisational skills, appropriate insurance (including public liability), a current first aid certificate, and an enhanced DBS check. Some Forest School leaders develop additional income streams through CPD training for teachers and early years practitioners, Forest School consultancy for schools setting up their own provision, or therapeutic outdoor programmes for community groups.